How does the STAR Internship Program Work?

STAR Internships are a valuable opportunity for the participating business/organization.

Internships provide an opportunity for business people to become more aware of our clients’ diverse capabilities while benefiting their staffing infrastructure. The internship also provides a prospective employer with an extended opportunity to evaluate a client’s potential skills and abilities.

The STAR Program subsidizes the wage of interns while the business or organization placement provides the on-site orientation, training and supervision. Support is provided to interns in the form of case management services which address potential barriers to employment.

If a client is applying for employment as a direct hire, a short internship of up to two weeks can be pursued.

The Supported Training and Access to Resources (STAR) Internship Program is a vital and unique part of our employment training. Internships provide valuable work experience and training in a real-work setting. The training an intern receives during an internship can assist in moving towards a particular field of employment and teaching needed skills for achieving a future employment goal.

The 3-to-6-month internship experience gives STAR participants an opportunity to apply the skills they have acquired as well as develop new job skills. Overall goals of STAR internships include:

• Developing job readiness and employability skills
• Identifying interest/skills within a particular field
• Building employment resume and references
• Learning and applying skills new job skills
• Providing on-site job coaching/development for interns
• Securing employment placement if available

How to Become an Internship Placement Site

If you think your business or organization would like to become an internship site, or if you have any additional questions, please contact Kafi Dixon, Program Manager at 319-338-5416 ext. 105 or at kafi@shelterhouseiowa.org.

We would be pleased to work with you in establishing an internship. We could also arrange to present you with more information about our program.

Before the internship begins, potential internship placement sites are contacted. We consult with the site in order to suggest the most appropriate intern match. Businesses and organizations may interview several clients, or we may recommend a specific candidate after the initial meeting.

Program Case Management staff working with the individual clients become the primary point of contact and will provide oversight of internship placements including but not limited to:

• Work with client on employment barriers and skill building such as child care, education and transportation
• Provide an internship orientation session
• Maintain communication with site supervisor regarding placements
• Address workplace issues such as attendance, appearance and behavior with site supervisor and client
• Provide monthly performance evaluation with client and internship site supervisor
• Evaluate internship time-frame and extensions
• Offer support in transition to mainstream employment

It is the expectation that interns will adhere to the policies and procedures of the individual business or organization. Internship participants are expected to be oriented to the job by the site supervisor (or other staff) of the business or organization internship site. During the internship, the site supervisor will conduct a performance evaluation and review of the intern. Supervisors are asked to complete an evaluation form that provides the interns with valuable feedback about their work.